(Author: Rhiana)
Gwen walked in darkness, pain dogging her steps. So many questions raced through her mind…Why would Sam not help her or allow Frodo to come near? And who was that horrible Elf that had shot her?
The memory brought renewed pain throughout her body, and she shivered. Why was this happening? All she wished to do was to find Frodo, to see her true love once again…
And then, she realized with a start, that she already had. She felt his strong arms wrapped around her form, shielding her from the cold and the pain. His soft breath against her skin set her heart to pounding, and she forced herself up out of the darkness and into reality.
With her consciousness came searing pain, and she gasped aloud, fighting back tears. Though she had managed to pull out the arrow herself, which had not been an easy task, blood flowed from the wound, albeit not so quickly as before. Frodo had ripped his shirt and wrapped her wound, which was likely the only reason she had not bled to death.
Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her love, and she sobbed, sobbed for what she thought she had lost, sobbed for him. She hoped she would live long enough to tell him she loved him, that the wound would not become infected.
She had done nothing to deserve such a grave injury. She knew not who the strange Elf was with the angry, suspicious eyes, but she knew that he had no reason not to trust her.
"Frodo, my love," she whispered softly, her throat rusty from the shock and trauma to her body. He jumped and came instantly awake. "Gwen! Oh, Gwen…Gwen, Gwen, Gwen…" He kissed her lips, claiming them over and over, afraid to believe that she was real, yet not wanting to let her go.
"I thought you were dead for sure," he exclaimed, pulling her close. Remembering the ring, he quickly slipped it off his finger, and looked about anxiously. "Come, we must hide." As gently as he could, he lifted her, grimacing as she winced and bit her lip at the small jolt to her wound. Moving silently as he could he settled her down far enough away that even Siendar would have a hard time hearing. Likely, they would come searching for him soon, but he could just…No. He must not put the Ring on again.
Brushing back a lock of hair from her face Frodo smiled at her, his large eyes brimming with tears. Gwen smiled back, and wrapped her arms about his neck, pulling him down to her. "Oh, Frodo, I love you so much…please don't let me go…"
"But your wound," he cautioned, drawing back to look into her beautiful eyes.
"Will be fine. I need to feel your arms around me. I've missed you!" she cried, pressing her face to the warm hollow of his neck.
"And I you, angel," Frodo whispered back, kissing the top of her head, her temple. "And I you…"